Attendance and Truancy



ABSENCES/ATTENDANCE
Regular school attendance is essential for a student to make the most of his or her education to benefit from teacher led and school activities, to build each day’s learning on the previous day’s, and to grow as an individual. Absences from class may result in serious disruption of a student’s mastery of the instructional materials; therefore, the student and parent should make every effort to avoid unnecessary absences. Two state laws—one dealing with the required presence of school aged children in school, e.g., compulsory attendance, the other with how a child’s attendance affects the award of a student’s final grade or course credit are of special interest to students and parents.

Attendance Policy
Compulsory Attendance Policy

Excused Absences
To receive an excused absence, resulting before or after a holiday, due to illness, or on a suspected class “skip day”, the student must have a doctor’s note or have a parent verify the illness in person.
Policy FEA(LEGAL) Excused Absences. The following are the only reasons allowed for an excused absence:
• Illness of a student or severe/critical illness of an immediate
  family member.
• Death of a member of the immediate family.
• Medical or dental attention,
• Religious holy day (must be pre-approved).
• Absences which the principal judges as an emergency
  beyond the control of the student or parent.
• Absences described in Policy FDD(LEGAL) COURT PROCEEDINGS 
  OR HUMAN SERVICE ACTIVITIES

Unexcused Absences
A student who receives an unexcused absence may not make up missed work and could be subject to disciplinary action for truancy. Some examples of unexcused absences are:
• Staying home to study or to write a report;
• Going shopping, looking for a prom dress, or returning a
  tuxedo;
• Going fishing, hunting, or skiing,
• Oversleeping or missing the bus,
• Skipping, or leaving early for a trip/vacation
• Failing to follow your campus’ admit to class procedure.
If the reason is deemed unacceptable by the administrator, the absence will be unexcused. However, if the administrator determines that the unexcused absence is due to extenuating
circumstances, the administrator may allow make-up work. Parents/students have 3 school days to submit documentation to change an unexcused absence to an excused absence. If
documentation is not submitted during the allowable time, the absence will remain the same.
THE FACT THAT PARENTS KNOW AND APPROVE OF AN ABSENCE WILL NOT ALTER THE FACT THAT IT CAN BE UNEXCUSED OR CONSIDERED TRUANCY.

Medical Excuses (partial day)
A student who is temporarily absent, resulting from a visit to a health care professional, licensed to practice in the United States, will be counted present if that student commences classes or returns to school on the same day as the appointment. The student will be allowed time to make up missed work according to school policy. Upon returning to school, the student should present an excuse on doctor’s stationery to obtain this type of excuse.